On September 7, 2023, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the ASEAN-India Summit 2023 held in Jakarta, Indonesia, said that the 21st Century belongs to Asia and stressed that the ASEAN bloc is the central pillar of the Act East Policy of India and plays a key role in the Indo Pacific initiative.
He also highlighted that building a rule-based order after the pandemic diminished was a necessary action and motive and considered essential for growing forward.
The Theme of the Summit
Speaking at the 20th ASEAN-India Summit, PM Modi spoke of this year’s main theme of the ASEAN Summit 2023, ASEAN Matters Epicentre of Growth and expressed that the region plays an important role in incrementing global growth.
He said, “This year’s theme is ASEAN Matters: Epicentre of Global Growth. ASEAN matters here as everyone’s voice is heard and ASEAN is the epicentre of growth because it plays a significant role in global growth.”
Why is the ASEAN-India Summit important?
India and other members of ASEAN, mostly the nations of Southeast Asia, face common challenges. The primary challenge to the grouping and India comes from the People’s Republic of China (PRC). India faces Chinese aggression in Arunachal Pradesh and Eastern Ladakh along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), while the Southeast Asian Nations are embroiled in territorial and maritime disputes in the South China Sea (SCS) over reefs and islands.
On August 28, 2023, the People’s Republic of China released a new controversial map that depicts Arunachal Pradesh, Eastern Ladakh, under Chinese control. The new map also depicts most of the islands and waters of the South China Sea under their jurisdiction. ASEAN Nations like Vietnam, the Philippines and Malaysia have stood together in protest of the new map released by China and its Ministry of Natural Resources.
Matter of Pride
The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it was a matter of pride for him to co-chair the ASEAN-India Summit while highlighting India-Indonesia partnership is entering the fourth decade. “Our history and geography unite India and ASEAN; along with it, our shared values, regional integration, and our shared belief in prosperity, peace, and multipolar world order suit us.
ASEAN is central to the Act East and the Look East Policy formulated by India. It also supports the ASEAN outlook on the India-ASEAN centrality and Indo-Pacific said the prime minister. “Even in the environment of hostilities and global uncertainty or mutual progress. This is the testimony of the strength and resilience of the ties. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam-One Earth, One Family and One Future is the theme of the G20 presidency this year.
PM Modi’s East Asia Summit
After the ASEAN Summit, PM Narendra Modi will attend the East Asia Summit (EAS). “After that, I will be attending the 18th East Asia Summit. This forum provides a useful opportunity to deliberate on the issues of importance to the region, including food, security, environment, health and digital transformation. I look forward to exchanging views with the other leaders of the EAS on practical cooperation measures to collectively address these global challenges,” Modi had posted on the social media site X before leaving for Jakarta, Indonesia.
The Indian leader will return to the Indian capital, Delhi, tonight ahead of the G20 Summit, which is being hosted in the national capital on September 9 and September 10, 2023.
All About ASEAN
The Association of the South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional organisation which was established to promote political and social stability among the rising tensions of the colonial nations of the Asia-Pacific region. The members include Vietnam, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Laos and Cambodia. The broader aim of this grouping is to accelerate economic growth, social progress and cultural development for the prosperous and peaceful communities of the South East Asian Nations.
